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    Google has announced that it will provide eligible Nigerian students with 12 months of free access to Google AI Plus.

    The Gemini Student Offer is available to students aged 18 and above enrolled in accredited universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. It gives them access to a range of AI tools designed to support learning, research, and creativity, including study notebooks in Gemini, Gemini Live, Deep Research, and Gemini Omni.

    Normally, Google AI Plus costs ₦7,700 per month, or ₦92,400 for a year. By offering eligible students free access, Google aims to reduce financial barriers to advanced AI tools, narrow the digital divide, and expand access to the technology. Nigeria is one of 27 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where the offer is now available.

    Related post: Google Announces $37 Million to Drive AI Development in Africa

    The Gemini Student Offer

    The package includes several tools to support students with research, revision, and organization of their schoolwork. For example, study notebooks in Gemini help students organize lecture slides, PDF notes, and additional reading material. When students upload these pieces of input, Google can then provide customized study plans and practice quizzes. Gemini Live and Omni let students engage Gemini in a real-time conversation to discuss complex topics. The Deep Research tool is particularly helpful for students conducting research projects. It can conduct indepth searches across multiple sources and generate research reports with source links and citations that students can use when writing papers. The package also provides students with an additional 400GB of Google Cloud Storage. 

    To access the offer, eligible students should sign in with their Google account and verify their enrolment through SheerID. They can do this by providing an institutional email with an edu.ng domain or sharing an image of their valid student ID card. This is the second year that Google is offering this subscription for free. Students who previously benefited from it can renew their plan for another 12 months. 

    Related post: Idris Elba and Google Launch $1M AI Initiative For African Creators

    Guided Learning vs AI Reliance 

    Google said the initiative is not intended for students to use AI to generate answers to assignments without understanding the subject matter. Instead, they encouraged students to take advantage of Gemini’s Guided Learning Mode. The mode is structured to act as a tutor, giving hints, explanations, and guiding questions rather than providing answers outright. 

    When Google DeepMind evaluated Guided Learning Mode in a Study involving 1,763 students in West African schools, the results were compelling. Over eight weeks, students who used Guided Learning Mode made progress comparable to 1.2 to 1.7 years of studying. More than 90% of interactions focused on building conceptual understanding, while Gemini provided direct solutions in just 2% of interactions

    Educators could also use Google Classroom to lock Gemini into Guided Learning Mode, ensuring comprehension rather than answer generation. 

    Related post: Google Play Launches $1M Equity-free Fund for African Indie Game Developers

    Improving Education Access in Africa 

    The Director of Google in West and East Africa, Olumide Balogun, said that the initiative was designed to empower Nigerian students. “AI is the defining technological shift of our generation, and for Nigeria, with one of the youngest and most entrepreneurial populations in the world, it is an immediate leapfrog opportunity,” he commented. “By offering 12 months of free Google AI Plus for the second consecutive year, we are removing financial barriers so that Nigerian students can master complex subjects, build in-demand digital skills, and compete confidently in the global economy.”

    While access to quality education across Sub-Saharan Africa remains a challenge, Google’s AI access program ensures that African students are not left behind. By offering personalised learning support alongside educational guardrails, the Gemini Student program will help African students reach their full potential. 

    Main image: Students using a laptop. Source: Canva. 

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    The post Google Offers Nigerian Students 12 Months of Free AI appeared first on UrbanGeekz.

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